Laundry device.



H. A. (Q1, D. EICHELBERGER.

LAUNDRY DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22, i918.

Patented Dec 3, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

H. A. & J. D, ElCHELBERGER.

LAUNDRY DEVICE.

' APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22. 1918.

Patented Dec. 3, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- Patented Bee. 3, 1918.

veiz w:

LAUNDRY DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22. 1918.

H. A. (Q J. 0. EICHELBEPGER.

27 3,95% HAH HARVEY A. EICHELBERGEB AND JOHN D. EICHELBEBGEB, G3 ST. LOUIS, MISSQU'EI;

LAUNDRY DEVICE.

Application filed March 22. 1918. Serial No. 223,957.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HARVEY A. Ercrmn BERGER and'JoHN D. Ercnnnsnnonn, citizens of the United States, residing in the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Laundry Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to launo 6 ,ioes and more particularly to an apparatus or machine for the washing, rinsing and wringing of wearing apparel and. other articles. It has for its principal objects to minimize manual labor and to obviate the necessity for placing the hands in the water in carrying out theprocesses above mentioned, particularly in rinsing and wringing the water put of the Washed articles.

The invention consists in an apparatus and in the parts and combinations and arrangements of parts, as hereinafter described and set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating a practical embodiment of the invention,

Figure l is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in section, showing the apparatus as arranged for washing;

Fig. 2 is a top plan View, parts being broken away to show more clearly the construction and arrangement of the removable cover for the receptacle;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of squeezer disk detached Fig. 4: is a fragmentary detail view of a portion of the actuating mechanism for the agitator;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section showing the the presser or I squeezer mechanism placed in operative position; I

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section on the 7 line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

' Fig. '3' is a section, similar to that shown in Fig. 5, illustrating a modification of the squeezer mechanism, and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail view show ing the manner in which the agitator is mounted.

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates the receptacle or tub. Preferably, the outside of the tub is tapered to support. the hoops 2, but the inside is cylindrical and may be corrugated vertically according to the common practice, or not, as

desired. So, too, the tub may or may not have the usual feet or legs 3, as desired.

At the top of the tub is a removable clo' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. a, 1918.

fastened on its top face, as at 9, and extend.

-ing over the sectiond, but without attachment thereto. The top faces of these cleats 8 come substantially flush with the edge of the tub and they have clips 10 thereon and projecting so as to rest on the tub.

On a supporting frame 11 which is fastened on one side of the tub, are two up-' standing bearing brackets 12 for a driving shaft '13. Hi'ngedly mounted at one end on the shaft 13, as by hearing brackets 14, is a bridge-plate or member 15 having a leg 16 at its opposite end to rest on the edge 0 the tub (see Fig. 1), so as to support the bridgeplate in horizontal position, and in which position it is fastened by a suitable, catch 17. This bridge-plate carries the actuating.

mechanism for scribed. On the bridge-plate 15 is a housing 18 in which is mounted a pinion 19. said pinion having fixed thereto the spindle 20 of the agitator. Slidably mounted on the housing 18 is a rack-bar 21 which has its teeth in engagement with said pinion 19. This rackhar is connected by a link or pitman 22 to a crank arm 23 on the endof the driving shaft 13; and said driving shaft 13 has on its opposite end a hand wheel or a suitable pulley 24 or other actuating means, whereby a rethe agitator now to be derack-bar 21 and it in turn efi'ects an oscillation of the pinion 19 and the attached spindle 2G.

Mounted loosely on the spindle 20 is an agitator disk 25 having pegs or fingers 26 for engaging the articles to be washed in the tub. To permit the disk 25 in action to slide longitudinally on the spindle 20' and at the same time hold it from rotating inde pendently thereof, the spindle is provided nmr its end and on opposite sides with ribs or fins 27 and the central opening 28 of the disk is correspondingly notched. as at 29, to loosely fit the portion of the spindle so formed. To retain the agitator disk on the spindle the latter has a suitable knob or collar 30 at its end.-

To adapt the agitator mechanism for use with an adj. cent or adjoining, or a twin t b, the spindle may be extended on the opposite side of the pinion 19, as at 20* and made as an exact duplicate as just above described, and have thereon a second agitator disk In this way, a second tub may be placed alongside of the tub 1 and the bridgeplate swung over thereon so as to rest thereof.

with its leg 16 (opposed to the leg 16) on the edge of said second tub, where it may be fastened b the catch l'T Obviously, as the center of the driving shaft 13 is to one side of the bridge-plate 1:) (see Fig. 1) the portion 20 of the agitator spindle and the leg 16 are made correspondingly longer than the parts 20 and 16; otherwise, the second tub should be correspondingly elevated.

The wringing or squcozcr mechanism will now be described. This conu'irises a follower or squeczcr disk 31 movable vcrtically in the tubl. and. pre l crably. having its uppcr face corrugated, as at and being perforated, as at 3 throughout. or foraminous.

On the under side of this disk 31 are crossed cleats 34, 33. and ii is attached to a substantially U-shapc yoke or strap whose upstanding le s 36 have a scrics of apertures 37 therein and project above the upper edge of the tub when the disk is at the bottom lrcl'cral'ily the tub is grooved vcrtically lo rc ivc the membcrs 36 so as to bring them flush with the lace ol' the tub and to serve as guides tor said members.

I-lingcd lo one of the members 36. as by a rule-joint 34. is a link 3 and attached to the latter, as by an overthrow hinged joint- 40, is a connecting bar 41 whose opposite end portion has a hasp or the like l2 thereon for engagement with a staple or hook 3 on the opposite member 30. v

Mounted on the connecting bar ll. as by hinges 44, is a yoke 45 having a centrally aperturcd hub portion 4-13 provided with a collar 47 at its upper end. Qwiveled to the hub portion 4-6. by a. split l'lungcd collar 48, is thehub of a handovheel lf). Th is handwheel has a screw threaded borc through which a screw 50 works. Fastcncd to the lower end of this screw is a cross-block 51 having protubc 'anccs 52 on its under side to engage in recesses in the cleats S of the tub closure on which said cross-block rests when in operative position.

To make clearance for the screw 50 when the squcezcr mechanism is in operative position .--asshown in Fig. 5, the connecting bar 41 isrecesscd, as at 54. This is also to permit. the yoke 45 to be swung over at right angles to the operative position shown in Fig. 5. so that the connecting bar 41 may be folded down at the side of the tub when not in use. as shown by full lines in Fig. and dotted lines in Fig. 5.

. In cases Where the sides of the tubs taper,

both inside and out, the construction of the squeczer mechanism may be modified, as shown in shownin Fig. 7. In this instance, instead of mounting the follower or squeezer disk. 31 on a continuous U-shape strap, a pair of separate members :36 are employed, and these have hinged thereto, as at 55, short picccs 56 ha ing a slidable connection. such slot-and-pin, with the under side of the disk. These pieces 56 are connected by hinged links 5? in toggle arrangement so as to break when the disk is raised and thereby permit the lower portions of the members 36 to leave the grooves in the tub, and to act convcrscly when the device is lowered in the tub. That is the uppcr ends of the members 36 being connected by the cross bar 11, said members 36 will always remain in engagement with the upper portion of the tub and, consequently, the lower ends of said members 36 must yield inward when the device is raised: audthe toggle permits of this. So, when the device is lowered. the toggle strikin; the bottom of the tub tends to straighten, and. of course. forces the lower portions of the members 53W into their respective grooves in the tub.

In this modification. also, a flexible or elastic. cupped gasket or ring 58 is placed around the marginal portion of the disk 31 so as to always bear against the face of the tub to retain the articles and yet be suflicientl v yieldablc as not to retard the upward movement of the device. This ring 58 may be continuous and in one piece, or in separate sections with the ends thereof 0verlapped or spaced apart, as desired.

From the torcgoing description it is noted that an apparatus produced whereby the washing may be readily accomplished Wll'hout hindrance of the wringing or squeezer mechanism, as the disk 31 is normally out of the way at the bottom of the tub, and the rest of the mechanism may be folded compactly out of the way at the side of the tub on the side opposite that to which the operator stands.

Then, when the washing has been accomplished. the bridge-plate 15 is swung out of place, and. if desired, onto an adjacent tub as hcrcinbctore pointed out. it being only necessary to remove the two lid sections 1, 5, and replace them after the agitator is with drawn from the tub. VVit-h the lid back in place. the connecting bar 41, with the parts carried thcrcbv. is moved and set in position as shown in Fig. 5. The cross-block 51 is then brought down on the cleats 8 with the protubcrances 52 in the recesses 52-), and all is ready for the squeezing ope ation. By turning the hand wheel 49. the yoke 45 is raised on the screw 50, and, through the cross bar 11 and members 36, the disk 31 is moved upward, thereby squeezing the articles between it and the lid.

mes es it is thus seen that the articles are lifted outof the water in the tub. To remove the articles it only renmins to insert a pin 59 in one of the apertures in the member 36 which happens to be exposed directly above the edge of the tub, said pins (there being one for each of the members 36) resting on the tub to support the members in raised posi tion. The pins being thus placed, the handwheel is rotated reverseiy so as to elevate the screw and lii't't the crossbloclr 51 oil the lid and permit the parts above the lid to be swung out of the way. The lid is then re moved and the articles taken from the tub.

If it is desired to rinse the articles in the tub, the wash water is drawn off by removing a stopper 30 near the bottom of the tub, and clear Water may be poured over the articles on the raised disk 31, or they may be lowered in the tub and the agitator again used, if desired, after which the squeezing operation may be repeated.

In some cases, the pin of the hinge 38 or the hinge 4-0 may be made removable, so as to detach the connecting bar l1 entirely from the menibersSS. In this way, the parts of the mechanism carried by said bar all may be u .d interchangeably on a squeezer disk in different tubs, or detached merely to set the said parts aside from the tub instead of folding them thereon as above described.

Obviously, the apparatus admits of cm siderable modification and changes without in the leasodeparting from the spirit and purpose of the invention as defined by the appended claims. "lhereforc, it is not limited to the specific construction and arrangement shown in. theidrawing lYh-atisclaimed is 2 1. In an apparatus of the character described, a receptacle, a b idge-member hinged on said receptacle, means for supporting said bridgcancmber in operative position on saidreceptacle and likewise on an adjacent receptacle, an agitator mechanism on said bridgeember comprising separate a dispose axially on opposite sides of said tridgomeinber to operate in the r receptacles; and driving means on 5:- id Madge-member for said agitator mechaan apparatus of the character described, a r .veptacle, a bridge'member hinged on said receptacle, means for supportingsaid bridgemcmber in operative position on said re eptacle and likewise on an adjacent receptacle, a spindle mounted on said bridge-meinber and extending on opposite sides thereof, an agitator operable on each end portion of said spindle, and driving means on said bridge-member for said spindle.

3. in an apparatus of the character described, a receptacle, a cover therefor, a squeezer disk therein, and a supporting and operating mechanism for said disk, the same comprising vertically movable members working in opposed relation and contiguous to-the inner face of the receptacle, a foldable connecting member tor the outer ends of said vertically movable members, a supporting member foldablc on said connecting member, a hand-Wheel swiveled on said supporting member, a screw working through said hand-wheel, and an abutment member on said screw for detachable engagement with said cover of the receptacle, Whereby, when said hand wheel is rotated, said squeezer disk is moved toward said cover.

4. in an apparatus of the character described, a receptacle, a cover therefor, a vertically movable squeezer disk therein, toldable operating mechanism for said disk and cooperable with said cover whereby to forcibly lift said disk, and means for holding said disk in raised position independently of said operating mechanism.

5. In an apparatus ofthe character described, a receptacle, a removable cover therefor, a squeezer disk in said receptacle, and a supporting and operating mechanism for said disk, the same comprising vertically movable members working in diametrically opposed grooves in the receptacle; ahingedly mounted cross connecting member at the outer ends of said vertically movable members, a yoke hinged on said cross connecting member so as to stand perpendicularly and right angles thereto, a hand-Wheel swiveled on said yoke, a screw working through said hand-wheel, and an abutment member on said screw for engagement with said cover.

*5v In a laundry device, a tub, a coverdetachably supported at the top thereof, a squeezer disk in said tub, fiat strap-like carrier bars for said squeezer disk, said bars being diametrically disposed and lying close to the side wall of the tub, and projecting above the cover, a foldablc cross connecting member having a pivotal link engagement with the upper end portions of said bars, ayoketoldable transversely on said cross connectingmember, a hand wheel swiveled on said yoke axially of said tub, an operating screw extending axially through said hand Wheel with threaded engagement, an abutment member SWii ed on said screw and engageablc with sa. cover, and means for securing said carrier in raised position.

ligned at Louis, Missouri, this 16th day of March, 19l8.

HARVEY A. EICHELBERGER. {Kill D. EICHELBERGER. 

